Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 88265 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88265 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
“Yes, but everyone is fine.” Not wanting to linger on the subject in case they’re wondering about the cause of the disaster, I address Vitai. “I didn’t know you speak English.”
“I asked Kian to help me so that we”—he motions around the table—“could understand each other. He got the skill from Sandy’s mind and gave it to me.”
Why would he go to so much effort? He didn’t have to.
I study him more closely. “It’s kind of you to keep them company.”
His smile is neutral, giving nothing away.
Sandy takes my hand and pulls me to the table. “Have you eaten?”
“Yes, thanks.” The memory of the agreeable breakfast I shared with Aruan only acts as a magnifying glass on the unpleasant way we parted. “Do you need anything?”
Alexa sits back on her heels. “Everyone has been very kind. Clothes were sent, and food is delivered regularly. Vitai has been very accommodating too. He’s been telling us interesting stories about his fishing adventures.”
Irina grins. “Like the time a finned dragon took his bait and dragged him with his fishing rod and all into the water.” She turns to Vitai. “But you didn’t finish the story. What happened after you fell into the lake?”
Vitai chuckles. “I was lucky I made it out alive. Those finned dragons aren’t fussy eaters. If I didn’t have the presence of mind to grab my basket of bait when she took off with me, she probably would’ve taken a bite out of me. Instead, she went after the bait and swallowed everything whole, including the basket.”
Eucabeth stares at him with a doting expression, hanging on his every word. When he meets her gaze, a blush tints her cheeks pink.
When she catches me looking at her, she averts her eyes and stands. “Would you like a seat, Elsie? You can have mine.”
Her voice is gentle and melodic. It suits her. I’m so happy and grateful Vitai healed her. A lump lodges in my throat just from hearing her speak.
I swallow my untimely emotionality down. “I actually came to invite you for a walk.”
At that, everyone’s eyes light up. They’re on their feet in an instant.
“We can’t go far,” I warn, but they’re already dashing for their shoes that are lined up next to the archway, not paying me any heed.
Vitai, left on his own at the table, unfolds his tall body and stands unhurriedly, stretching to his full impressive height.
Not wanting to be rude, I ask, “Would you like to join us?” I did interrupt their breakfast, and he’s been nice to my uninvited guests.
Eucabeth gives him a soft smile, her doe-like, ochre-brown eyes sparkling.
Is her reaction what I think it is? I hope she’s not falling for Vitai. He must have a destined mate. Eucabeth knows as well as anyone here the Alit don’t mate with humans. She was present when Sandy mentioned the conversation she overheard between the Alit and the Phaelix. I’ll have to remind Eucabeth of this. I’d hate for her to get hurt, especially after everything she’s suffered.
“Please, do,” Sandy says to Vitai. She adds with a wink, “You can protect us if there’s danger.”
The corner of Vitai’s mouth lifts. “Who am I to deny a lady’s request?”
We exit the quarters with Sandy and me leading the way and Vitai at the back of the line. The group gawks at the window archways that give views of the ocean. Up here, in the higher part of the palace, the long mossy creepers that grow from the summit hang like strings of beads over the windows. The roar of the water spouting from the top is louder, but it’s not as deafening as where the flow accumulates in the waterfall that crashes on the broad rock ledge in front of the Great Hall.
The humans chat excitedly as I lead them down the spiral staircase and through the hallways with their illuminating stone walls. We stop in the Great Hall to admire the statues and the view of the cultivated hills with the wild jungle beyond. Vitai amuses them by reciting all the names of the kings and queens eternalized in stone.
“These statues are so detailed they almost look real.” Irina trails her fingers over the intricate folds of a queen’s gown. “Who made them?”
“A family of village artists,” Vitai says. “With their power, which is passed down through generations, they can chisel in stone anything they lay their eyes on.”
“Interesno,” Irina says under her breath, studying the stern stone faces.
Vitai is generous in divulging information about the Alit and their powers. I’m not sure the king or Aruan will appreciate that. They seemed inclined to share as little as possible with the group from Earth. Maybe Vitai thinks it doesn’t matter if the humans learn more about his culture and people. Perhaps he figures they’ve already seen a lot of Zerra anyway.